5. Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
The 6'9 power forward is a throwback to the golden days of college basketball. In a sport increasingly dominated by freshman and sophomores, he's a four-year senior who improved every single year he's been at Syracuse. He's averaging 18 points and nine rebounds a game. He's the sole reason the Orange a remotely within contention for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. However, as valuable as Christmas has been for Jim Boeheim's squad, voters are unlikely to choose a player of the year from a middling team.
4. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Russell's chances will suffer for the same reason Christmas' will -- Ohio State also just isn't very good. However, Russell himself is having too good a year to not at least earn an honorary mention. His stat line of 19/5/5 (and a fantastic 45 percent shooting rate from deep) has some scouts wondering if he'll be a top five pick in the summer's NBA draft.
3. Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
After missing significant time in 2014 due to academic woes, Grant has come back with a vengeance this year, averaging nearly 17 points and 6.4 dimes a game. Notre Dame is one of the most under-appreciated stories in college ball this year. They're eighth in the nation and a legitimate national title contender, but remain low on many people's radars. Grant will be looking to change that come March.
2. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Kaminsky is another senior who's grown and developed his game over four years. As a freshman he was scoring less than two points a game in 7 minutes of action. Now he leads the badgers with 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and close to two blocks a game on 67% shooting.
1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke
At day's end, however, the awards remain Okafor's to lose. He's the not just the most talented pro prospect, and he's not just the game's best big man. Okafor is the best player in college basketball, period. No one affects the game in more ways, with or without the ball, than him.
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